In this interview, Oakland A’s slugger Brent Rooker opens up about his journey through the highs and lows of professional baseball, from being overlooked to becoming one of the most productive hitters in the league. Rooker discusses the power of social media, the mental toll of not getting consistent opportunities early in his career, and how the A’s finally gave him the runway to prove himself. He talks about adjusting both physically and mentally, working with performance coaches, and how his brain “keeps receipts” from every doubter. 

Rooker reflects on pivotal moments, including a college coach who believed in his potential to win SEC Player of the Year, being put on the taxi squad, and eventually stepping into the role of “the guy” in Oakland. He shares insight into the current A’s clubhouse, his thoughts on the future of the team in Sacramento, and what it felt like to put up back-to-back huge seasons at the Coliseum — including the emotions of closing it out on the final day. 

We dive into his work with the A’s hitting coach, his approach to simplifying the game, and how manager Mark Kotsay has impacted his development. Rooker also shares why he thinks college baseball is broken, what it was like at Mississippi State, and the challenges players face transitioning from college to the pros. He gives a raw look at life off the field — from bouncing between cities to the impact his wife has had on keeping him grounded. 

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Hosts

Eric Hosmer /⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @hosmer305⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Peter Moylan / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@petermoylan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Justin Su'a /⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @justinsua⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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